Boycott: Film screening and discussion
On Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 1:00 pm, Columbia County for Palestine (CC4P), Upper Hudson Valley CODEPINK (UHVCP), and Jewish Voice for Peace Albany (JVPA) will present a screening and discussion of Julia Bacha’s documentary film Boycott (2021) at the Hudson Area Library, 51 North 5th Street, Hudson, NY. There will be a post-screening discussion. 'Boycott' was released two years before Israel launched its current accelerated genocidal campaign in the Gaza Strip, but this story of resistance to nationwide efforts to silence pro-Palestinian voices in the U.S. is more relevant than ever today. Right-wing groups have already begun using state-level anti-BDS laws as templates for new legislation to restrict grassroots campaigns calling for boycotts in order to bring about change on other issues including climate change and gun ownership. 'Boycott' traces the impact of state legislation which penalizes individuals and companies that boycott Israel in response to its illegal occupation of Palestine and decades-long abuse of Palestinian human rights. 'Boycott' looks at the far-reaching implications of anti-boycott legislation and provides an inspiring tale of individuals standing up to protect the First Amendment. The anti-boycott laws threaten people’s livelihoods as well as their freedom of speech. Boycotting is a time-honored, effective tactic for social change that has been used in struggles for civil rights and labor rights in the US and against apartheid in South Africa. The film depicts a news publisher in Arkansas, an attorney in Arizona, and a speech therapist in Texas, each launching courageous legal battles in opposition to their state’s anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction) laws. The BDS movement, founded in 2005, is a Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice and equality for Palestine, inspired by the global boycott movement that helped end apartheid in South Africa. The post-screening discussion will focus on pro-Palestinian activists’ resistance to current efforts to suppress pro-Palestinian voices and actions. Local activists will share their stories.
On Saturday, March 22 at 3:30pm as a follow up to this screening, CC4P, UHVCP and JVPA are co-presenting “Community Responses to Israel’s U.S.-Supported War on Palestinians: Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaigns” at the Hudson Area Library. Guest speakers will be Riham Barghouti, a founding member of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic andCultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), and a longtime organizer for Palestinian rights in NYC; and Rebecca Vilkomerson, the Executive Director of the national organization Jewish Voice for Peace from 2009 - 2019, and co-author of the new book, Solidarity Is the Political Version of Love. Barghouti and Vilkomerson will share information about the origins, principles, and strategy of the BDS movement, as well as practical examples of effective BDS campaigns. Local organizers will discuss the Break the Bonds New York State (BTBNYS) campaign. Discussion will follow.
Columbia County for Palestine is a coalition of Columbia County, NY activists committed to the cause of a Free Palestine. Upper Hudson Valley CODEPINK is the NY Capital Region Chapter of CODEPINK standing for peace, justice, and transnational/anti-imperialist feminism. Jewish Voice for Peace Albany are Capital Region New York Jews organizing towards Palestinian liberation and Judaism beyond Zionism.
For more information, please email John Mason at [email protected].
